Tips for removing crank bolts?

[emery1990]

Think they are called crank bolts. the 6 bolts that hold the clutch plate on. Well I started on my car again after 5 weeks off, first minute it slipped and took a chunk out of my thumb, It just doesn't want to budge at all. I'm hold the other side with one hand and using my foot to try and undo the bolt, but nothing! Is there something that holds the crank still while I try and undo the bolts?

[Seanl]

Use an old piece of timber or metal with a hole each end. Put a large hole one end and secure it into one of the gearbox mounting holes, and a smaller hole the other end and thread a long bolt through it and through one of the holes in the pressure plate, and stick a nut on the end. It will bend, but it shouldn't snap so should be sufficient to hold it still. 

[emery1990]

Ok that sounds like a good idea! Cheers. 

[danny_p]

spanner works to wedge it     put a bolt through the ring end then wedge it against the pressure plate

[Ade244]

You may need to warm them up with a blow torch to melt any thread lock. Mine were all locked on. 5 came off easy when warm, 1 got ground off with my grinder then sloted the stub and used a screw driver on that once the plate was off. Theres some trick to lock the crank. Broke VW gearbox chap I think it was.

[AudiA8Quattro]

Broke VW used a spanner, like Danny suggested.

[emery1990]

cheers, ended up using the spanner and blowtorch mehtod, came out so easy then! When putting it back on the pressure plate has to centralised, haynes say either a vw tool or a homemade bit of wood and dale. Any other tips for putting it back in central, got a lightened freewheel to go back onto it

[Seanl]

I didn't have a tool either. I just used a vernier caliper on the 3 or 4 corner parts that are closest between the clutch plate and the flywheel. Took a while to get it perfect, as had to keep doing up, then undoing the bolts to make sure it was central, but worked a treat! 

[danny_p]

i just nudge it about till it feels centralish

[emery1990]

ok cheers mate,

Danny you make it sound like it isnt the end of the world if its like a mm out? ill see what its like when i do it.